May 13, 2011

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Hornstrandir

by swebackpacker

The wilderness peninsula of Hornstrandir was my next goal after Látraberg. This is a real wilderness area only open in the summer months. If you really would like to fight with the elements go early in the season when it´s rains a lot. In the end of the season in the middle of August it can be sunny and nice weather if you are lucky. One more bonus going late in the season is all the blueberries one can eat everywhere on the green hills.

There is a boat going out to different places around the Hornstrandir peninsula. One needs to arrange the schedule before going to Hornstrandir so the captain knows when and there to pick you up again for the return journey. Bring a tent, sleeping bag and mosquito repellent (only necessary for Hesteyri) and stock up on food in Isafjordur. There are two small settlements on the peninsula Adalsvik and Hesteyri. In Hesteyri one can even stay at sleeping-bag accommodation in the former doctor´s house which offers self-catering accommodation from late June to end of August. If you disembark the boat in Hesteyri the doctor’s house is about one hundred meter to the right at Hesteyrará river. If you are camping walk about two hundred meter to the left continue past a white small house to the camping area.

There are several possibilities for walking from Hesteyri. One can do day walks along the shore of Hesteyrafjordur or walk up to the summit for the view down to Adalvik. If you are self-sufficient and can carry a backpack, sleeping bag and tent one can do longer walk all the way to Adalsvik.